Apparatus for spinal-column stabilization

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for stabilizing the spine, comprising a bone screw ( 1 ) having a screw shaft ( 2 ) and having a first threaded portion ( 5 ) for insertion into the bone, comprising a rod ( 3 ) and a connector ( 4 ) that may be fixed to the bone screw ( 1 ) for the releasable connection of the rod ( 3 ) to the bone screw ( 1 ). The connector ( 3 ) comprises a connector body ( 9 ) having a throughgoing hole ( 10 ) and a rod seat ( 11 ) that is open on one side, into which the rod ( 3 ) may be snap fitted.

The invention relates to a device for stabilizing the spinal column and comprising a bone screw with a shaft having a first threaded portion for insertion into the bone, having a rod and a connector that is attachable to the bone screw for connecting the rod to the bone screw in a releasable fashion.

In order to restore and guarantee the load-bearing function of the spine in the case of traumatic or degenerative disorders of the spine, it is often necessary to stabilize the spine using a device. One example of such a device may be found in EP 1 254 639 that discloses a bar-screw system comprising bone screws that may be inserted into the vertebrae as anchors for connectors comprising an annular eyelet through which the rod may be slid. This rod is used to interconnect a plurality of vertebrae to form one stable unit, to which end the rod must be guided through the annular eyelets of the plurality of bone screws used. Because initially the bone screws have to be anchored in the vertebrae, the subsequent insertion of the rod through the eyelets of the connector requires a large surgical field.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for stabilizing the spine of the type mentioned above such that manipulation is simplified during the operation.

This object is attained according to the invention using a device of the type mentioned above in that the connector comprises a connector body having a throughgoing hole and a laterally open rod seat open into which the rod may be snapped using a spring effect.

The use of such a structure of the connector of a bar-screw system is associated with the large advantage that the rod need not be threaded through the individual annular eyelets of the connectors used with a motion in the direction of its longitudinal axis, but instead the rod may be fitted to the bone screw by means of the connector using a lateral movement in the radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the bar.

It is advantageous for the rod seat to be formed by two body extensions located opposite one another and forming a locking seat adapted to the circumferential structure of the bar. This structure allows the spring effect desired by the invention to be achieved in a simple manner, in that the body extensions are prestressed toward each other.

It is particularly preferred within the framework of the invention for the body extensions to each comprise at least one web, with the webs limiting the lateral opening width of the rod seat, thus initially forcing a widening of the rod seat upon snapping in of the rod by a spreading of the body extensions that firmly enclose the rod after insertion as a result of the desired spring effect.

In order to simplify insertion of the rod into the locking seat, the invention further provides for the body extensions to be formed on two legs connected to a base part at a spacing from each other. This structure provides the advantage that a large material thickness may be provided for the connector body with a correspondingly high load capacity without interfering with the deflectability of the body extensions because the deflectability of the body extensions and legs may be utilized in a cumulative fashion.

If the throughgoing hole is formed as a longitudinal bore in the connector body, an improved adjustability of the connector, and therefore of the rod, is possible relative to the bone screw. In such a case, it is preferred for the longitudinal bore to be formed in the legs and to have flanks running at an incline to the longitudinal axis of the connector that then serve as stops for the bone screw in limiting angular movement.

In the context of the invention, it is particularly preferred for the connector to be formed as a coupling for connecting a repositor. Namely, the requirement often arises in the course of a spine operation that not only the vertebrae require stabilization as part of the spine, but it is also necessary to align the vertebrae relative to one another in order to emulate the desired natural anatomic curvature of the spine or to correct a lateral curvature. Configuring the connector as a coupling element for connecting a repositor has the advantage that the bone screws already placed in the vertebrae may be used to effect the orientation of the vertebrae with the aid of the connector by means of the repository as a result of this bar-screw system, the orientation thus achieved may be permanently fixed, providing a very simple system with few components, with multiple uses of an application of the connector during operation as a coupling element to the repositor and as part of the bar-screw system in the device for stabilizing the spine.

Taking into account the twistability of the connector around its longitudinal axis through the longitudinal bore by means of the longitudinal bore formed in the connector body, it is useful for the structures for connecting the repositor not to impede the corresponding rotatability of the connector body. This is achieved in that the connector has an annular groove running in the circumferential direction on the connector body for the purpose of cooperating with the repositor.

Furthermore, it is advantageous for the bone screw to have a shaft collar adjacent the first threaded portion because this shaft collar may be used to establish a particular position for the connector relative to the axis of the bone screw, rendering it unnecessary for the connector to support itself directly on the vertebra.

Moreover, the invention further provides for a second threaded portion to be formed on the screw shaft and for a fixing means for cooperating with the second threaded portion to supplement the device for stabilizing the spine because, as a result of the cooperation between the fixing nut and the second threaded portion, it is possible to fix the position of the connector relative to the bone screw and to clamp the rod in the rod seat. In this context, the fact that a washer is provided, having one side adapted to the circumferential shape of the connector body and one side intended to rest against the fixing nut, serves an improved transmission of force.

In the context of the invention, it has further been shown to be advantageous for the screw shaft to have at least one slot splitting the screw shaft into halves in the region of the second threaded portion because, in this manner, it becomes possible to shorten the second threaded portion in a simple fashion to correspond to requirements in order to prevent regions of the bone screw from protruding far past the fixing nut. Alternately or additionally, it is possible for at least one target break point to be formed in the region of the second threaded portion.

In the context of the invention, it is desirable for a preliminary securing of the rod to be present in the rod seat, even independently of a force exerted by the fixing nut on the connector body, such that the surface of the rod seat and/or of the rod advantageously has structures and/or coatings enhancing the retention effect. Corresponding structures may, for example, be formed by longitudinal, transverse, or cross grooves that effect an engagement of abutting surfaces or at least a form fit by means of an increased contact pressure or corresponding edges or knobs.

The invention further relates to a combination of a device for stabilizing the spine, comprising a bone screw, a bar, and a connector having a repositor, with the connector being formed as a coupling element for connecting the repositor, in that the connector has an annular groove running in the circumferential direction on the connector body for cooperating with a notch of the repositor open on one end.

The invention shall be described in greater detail in the following with reference to an illustrated embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a side view of the bar-screw system after the removal of the repositor,

FIG. 5 is section V-V from FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a front view of the bar-screw system of FIG. 4 having a connector that has been twisted relative to the longitudinal axis of the screw,

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6 with a connector that has been twisted in the other direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the screw,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of only the bone screw,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of only the connector,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of only the washer,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of only the fixing nut.

The drawing shows a device for stabilizing the spinal column comprising a bar-screw system composed of a bone screw 1 having a screw shaft 2, a rod 3, and a connector 4.

FIG. 8 shows only the bone screw 1 with a first threaded portion 5 for insertion into the bone. A shaft collar 6 is located adjacent the first threaded portion 5 and a second threaded portion 7 is formed on the end of the screw shaft 2 of the bone screw 1 opposite the first threaded portion 5. A groove 8 for cannulation runs along the screw shaft (FIG. 5).

In the course of an operation for stabilizing the spine, the invention provides for the first threaded portions 5 of a plurality of such bone screws 1 to be set in the vertebrae of a spine. A connector 4 may then be placed on the shaft collar 6 of each of the bone screws 1, the connectors each having a connector body 9 having a throughgoing hole 10 and a transversely open rod seat 11 into which the rod 3 may be snap fitted. FIG. 9 shows such a connector 4 whose connector body 9 comprises a base part 12 and two legs 13 extending therefrom at a spacing from one another and having outer ends 14 that form the locking seat 15 adapted to the shape of the rod 3, each connected by a respective web 16.

FIG. 9 also shows that the throughgoing hole 10 in the connector body 9 is elongated as a slot having flanks inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the connector 4, resulting in the possibility of twisting the connector 4 about its longitudinal axis on the screw shaft 2 within limits defied by the flanks as stops. The corresponding adjustability of the connector 4 relative to the bone screw 1 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. After the corresponding positioning of the connector 4 on the screw shaft 2 of the bone screw 1 and orienting of the connector 4 relative to the bone screw 1, the rod 3 may be snapped into the rod seat 11; the configuration of the bar-screw system thus achieved may be fixed in place by means of a fixing nut 17 (FIG. 11) screwed onto the second threaded portion 7 of the bone screw 1, optionally with the aid of a washer 18 (FIG. 10). The washer 18 has one side that is shaped to fit complementarily with the connector 4 and a second side intended to abut the fixing nut 17. The screw shaft 2 may be shortened using a break point or a slot 19 formed in the region of the second threaded portion 7.

However, the device according to the invention also provides the opportunity for the connector to be initially used to achieve a correct orientation and positioning of the vertebra in the spine before positioning the rod 3 in the rod seat 11 of the connector 4, to this end the connector 4 is formed as a coupling element for connecting a repositor 20 by means of an annular groove 21 formed on the connector body 9 around the base part 12. The repositor 20 is formed with a groove 22 that can be fitted with this annular groove 21 and that is used to effect the change in the position of the spine by the application of corresponding leverage forces by way of the bone screw 1. After the successful repositioning, the orientation of the spine thus achieved may be fixed in place with the bone screw by installation of the bar, which is optionally bent, such that the repositor 20 may then be removed from the connector 4 that is acting as a coupling element.

List of Reference Characters

1 Bone screw 2 Screw shaft 3 Rod 4 Connector 5 First threaded portion 6 Shaft collar 7 Second threaded portion 8 Groove 9 Connector body 10 Throughgoing hole 11 Rod seat 12 Base part 13 Body leg 14 Body extension 15 Locking seat 16 Web 17 Fixing nut 18 Washer 19 Slot 20 Repositor 21 Annular groove 22 Grooves 

1. A device for stabilizing the spine, the device comprising a bone screw having a screw shaft and a first threaded portion for insertion into the bone, a rod, and a connector that may be fixed to the bone screw for the releasable connection of the rod to the bone screw, the connector having a connector body having a throughgoing hole and a laterally open rod seat into which the rod may be snap fitted.
 2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the rod seat is formed by two extensions located opposite one another, forming a locking seat that fits complementarily with the rod.
 3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the body extensions each have at least one web for forming the locking seat.
 4. The device according to claim 2 wherein the body extensions are formed as two legs connected to a base part at a spacing from each other.
 5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the throughgoing hole is formed as a longitudinal bore in the connector body.
 6. The device according to claim 5 wherein the longitudinal bore is formed in the body legs and has flanks running at an incline to the longitudinal axis of the connector.
 7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the connector is formed as a coupling for connecting a repositor.
 8. The device according to claim 7 wherein the connector comprises a outwardly open annular groove on the connector body cooperating with the repositor.
 9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the bone screw comprises a shaft collar adjacent the first threaded portion.
 10. The device according to claim 1 wherein a second threaded portion is formed on the screw shaft.
 11. The device according to claim 10 wherein a fixing nut is provided for cooperating with the second threaded portion.
 12. The device according to claim 11 wherein a washer is provided that has one side that fits complementarily with the connector body and another side intended to abut the fixing nut.
 13. The device according to claim 10 wherein the screw shaft has at least one slot splitting the screw shaft in the region of the second threaded portion.
 14. The device according to claim 10 wherein at least one target break point is formed in the region of the second threaded portion.
 15. The device according to claim 1 wherein the surface of the rod seat and/or of the rod has structures and/or coatings that increase a retention effect.
 16. A combination of a device for stabilizing the spine and comprising a bone screw, a rod, and a connector having a repositor, the connector being formed as a coupling element for connecting the repositor.
 17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein the connector comprises an annular groove on the connector body for cooperating with a groove of the repositor that is open on one end.
 18. A system for stabilizing a spine, the device comprising: a plurality bone screws each extending along a respective axis and having a first threaded portion for insertion into a respective vertebra of a spine; a respective connector traversed by each of the screws and formed with a pair of elastically deflectable legs defining a seat open generally radially of the respective screw; a rod snap fitted into all of the seats and gripped by the legs thereof; respective fastening means for fixing each of the connectors on the respective screw and for pressing together the legs of each of the connectors to clamp them to the rod.
 19. The system defined in claim 18 wherein the legs of each of the connectors are formed with a throughgoing hole through which the respective screw extends, the screws each being formed with a respective second threaded portion, the fastening means including an anchor collar on each screw, the connectors each sitting on the respective collar at the respective threaded portion, and a nut threaded on each of the second threaded portion and clamping the respective connector against the respective collar.
 20. The system defined in claim 19 wherein each connector is U-shaped with a base to one side of the respective screw and the two legs formed with the throughgoing hole extending to diametrally across the respective screw and the seat open radially of the screw on an opposite side of the screw. 